RAZR MAXX HD

Normally, we like to see software updates to our favorite phones because they tend to fix bugs and bring other enhancements that make them more stable or usable. Unfortunately, that doesn’t appear to be the case this time around with the new updates for the RAZR HD and RAZR M that were approved yesterday by Verizon. While they do improve GPS and eliminate random power cycles, they also aim to patch the kernel exploit that Dan Rosenberg used to unlock the bootloaders of each. In fact, in the changelog, there is a line that reads “ARM Trust Zone Security fix (Kernel exploit allows bootloader unlock).” (more…)

Update: For some reason, Verizon is now pushing out two different builds of 9.20.1 and 9.18.79. We aren’t sure why, but should we find out we’ll update the post.

A new update for the the Motorola DROID RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD has been approved by Verizon as build 9.20.1. It appears to be nothing more than a bug fixer, rather than the 4.2.2 update we were hoping for. In the update, users will find new versions of SmartActions and Backup Assistant. Outside of those new goodies, Motorola appears to have patched a bunch of SMS bugs, enhanced GPS and Bluetooth, and patched a security exploit.

The update is 50MB in size.

Typically when we see updates approved by Verizon, they begin to rollout within a week or so. We’ll keep you posted.

Invites from Motorola to join a RAZR HD and MAXX HD soak test are landing in email boxes, hoping that some owners out there will test a new software build for the devices. Both devices run the exact same software on Verizon, Android 4.1.2 with Blur on top. Could this be for Android 4.2? (more…)

Verizon is currently hosting a “Red Hot Deal Days” event from today through May 12 (this Sunday), so if you were in the market for a new Big Red smartphone, now wouldn’t be a bad time to look. Well, assuming you aren’t interested in the Galaxy S4, since that won’t be out until May 30. But if the GS4 isn’t on your radar, you’ll find deals on the RAZR MAXX HD and regular RAZR HD, RAZR M, Incredible 4G LTE, Blackberry Z10 (hah!), and more.

The DROID line is headlining this show, with the RAZR MAXX HD at $149 on contract, RAZR HD at $49, and RAZR M and Incredible 4G LTE for free. The Samsung Galaxy S3 (16GB model) is also there for $99 on new 2-year contract.

Yesterday, Dan Rosenberg published the first Motorola bootloader unlock method in history. It was an epic moment for the rooting and development community on Android, as no one had been able to accomplish anything close to this for what seems like an eternity on a Motorola device since they started locking them down back in 2010. There was one problem though, the bootloader unlock worked on devices like the DROID RAZR HD, RAZR M, and Atrix HD as long as you were rooted before you updated to Android 4.1.2. For many of you, especially those with a RAZR HD or RAZR MAXX HD who received the most recent 4.1.2 update, you were out of luck. (more…)

We should point out that you cannot re-lock the phone after using this tool (at this point), and it does indeed void your warranty. Also, Motorola can more than likely patch this in a software update, so you may want to weigh your options here before long. It’s risky from a warranty and replacement standpoint to say the least. As always, proceed with caution.

You definitely need to be rooted ahead of time, prior to using this tool. For those with a RAZR HD running Android 4.1.2 (the newest update), root has not been gained yet so you are out of luck for now. I can’t imagine that this won’t ever be rooted, but again as of today, there is no root method.

Update: Dan released a root method for Android 4.1.2 that can be found here.

As we mentioned yesterday, this method does not work on OMAP powered phones, including the original RAZR, Bionic, and DROID 4. Do not attempt to use this on any of those phones.

We haven’t posted a DROID commercial in a while, but a new clip for the RAZR MAXX HD surfaced this morning looking more like the original DROID campaign than anything we have seen in some time, and thought we’d share. Plus, anything is better than the desert bedroom explosion spot, right? Not sure this fully redeems the DROID brand after that ridiculousness, but it can’t hurt.

In this spot, instead of selling the new powerful Google Voice Search, Verizon has decided to brand it with their own term called, “DROID recognition.” Yes, that’s a silly word play on the phrase “voice recognition.” Come on, we should be able to do better than this.

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